Giugliano set for MCE BSB debut with Tyco BMW alongside Iddon
TAS Racing has today (Monday) announced the signing of Italian World Superbike regular and five-time WSB podium finisher in 2016, Davide Giugliano, who will be joining Christian Iddon in the Tyco BMW line-up for the 2017 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season.
The 27-year-old from Rome, who finished seventh in this season’s World Superbike Championship, brings a wealth of experience to the Tyco BMW team and has claimed 14 podium finishes in the World Championship and was crowned the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup champion in 2011.
Iddon returns with the team for a second season after claiming six MCE BSB podiums in his debut season with Tyco BMW. The Stockport-based rider started 2016 with four consecutive podium finishes, before returning to the top three twice at the end of the year.
Giugliano said: “I’m very happy to be joining the Tyco BMW team for my first season in the British Superbike Championship. I have ridden on some of the British circuits already during my time in World Superbike, and will look forward to testing and racing on the others next year.
“British Superbike is a very popular championship with big crowds and I know the British public is passionate about their racing; a bit like the Italian supporters, so I’m hoping to gain many fans with Tyco BMW next season. I know having raced against the BMW S1000RR it is a strong package with a lot of potential, so I’m looking forward to getting started and showing what we can do in BSB.”
Iddon said: “I’m obviously happy to be back with Tyco BMW next year and I want to do a full season of what we showed flashes of this year. We have shown what we are capable of with the pace we had at the start of the season and we also had a good end to the year too but we have to be aiming for that consistently.
“We have made a few little steps forward with a test after the season and I feel that we have a good direction for when we start testing again. The target is to win the championship, but first we need to try and get into the Showdown. We know it isn’t going to be easy but continuity and consistency is key and we are looking forward to getting started.”
Team Manager Philip Neill commented: “First of all I am proud to confirm that TAS Racing and Tyco Security Products will continue our partnership for a fifth consecutive season. On top of that, we are very pleased to finally announce our team line-up for the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship.
“To retain Christian for a second season is an ideal scenario. He showed flashes of brilliance on numerous occasions this year and only some mid season problems affected his overall championship position. We believe in Christian’s ability and fully expect him to be a championship contender next year, during his second term riding a Tyco BMW S1000RR.
“I don’t know Davide yet on a personal level but as world number 7 it’s clear he is a very talented motorcycle rider and we would like to welcome him to Tyco BMW and to BSB for 2017.
We do have some work with new tracks to learn and of course we need to ensure Davide feels comfortable on the S1000RR as soon as possible. However, there is huge buzz of excitement throughout the team and from our sponsors, so we simply cannot wait to start this new chapter in TAS Racing history.”